Bag presenter for a packaging machine

ABSTRACT

A bag presenter for moving a bag from a bag supply toward a packaging machine filling station, the bag presenter comprising: a bag supply holding area, a gripper for holding a bag in the filling station and a bag handler for moving the bag from the holding area toward the gripper, the bag handler including a bag feeder and a bag conveyor, the bag feeder being operable to pull a bag from a bottom of the bag supply holding area and to pass the bag to the bag conveyor. The bag handler can include a bag opening mechanism and a means for maintaining the bag in an open configuration, once the bag has been opened. The bag presenter is useful for handling non-wicketed bags and can be used to convert a packaging machine from reliance on wicketed bags to use of non-wicketed bags.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No.60/419,100, filed Oct. 18, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for handling bags and positioningthem for handling by a packaging machine for filling the bags. Moreparticularly, the invention can relate to a bag presenting apparatus formoving bags from a bag supply to a filling station of a packagingmachine and at the same time opening the bags in preparation forfilling.

In packaging processes, bags can be used to contain loose articles, suchas loose foodstuffs, etc. The bags include a pair of side panels of, forexample, polymeric or metallic materials. The bags for filling in thepackaging machine can be generally square or rectangular and sealedalong three sides by any of various means including fusing, adhesives,folding, gusseting or by reclosable seals such as elongate interlockingchannels. Thus, the bags are left with one open side, through which theloose articles can be introduced to the bag. After filling the open sideis closed as by use of one of the above-noted closure means.

The bags are generally either wicketed or non-wicketed. Wicketed bagsinclude a pair of apertures at an edge of the bag, the holes being usedto mount the bags on a pair of spaced apart pins in the filling stationof the packaging machine. The edge of the bag containing the holes afterfilling serves no other purpose and is, therefore, often cut off laterin the packaging process, thereby creating waste and represents extramaterial and handling costs.

Non-wicketed bags, which do not include holes for mounting in themachine, can be stacked in some way and pulled off the stack one at atime for filling by the machine.

Packaging machines are quite elaborate structures. Some packagingmachines, such as the BaggerBoss™ packaging machine, produced by theapplicant of the present application, are produced to handle onlywicketed bags. If a company wishes to move to the use of non-wicketedbags, a whole new packaging machine usually must be purchased andinstalled.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An apparatus for presenting bags to the filling station of a packagingmachine has been invented.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bagpresenter apparatus for use to present a bag for filling by a packagingmachine, the bag including a first side panel and an opposite side paneland the packaging machine having a filling station including a fillingchute and a filled bag conveyor, the bag presenter apparatus comprising:a bag gripper for holding the bag to be filled by the packaging machinerelative to the filling chute of the packaging machine such thatmaterials from the chute can be introduced to the bag and the baggripper configurable to hold the first side panel of the bag and in aposition conducive to engagement of the bag by the filled bag conveyorof the packaging machine.

In another broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided abag presenter for moving a bag from a bag supply to a packaging machinefilling station, the bag presenter comprising: a bag supply holdingarea, a gripper for holding a bag in the filling station and a baghandler for moving the bag from the holding area toward the gripper, thebag handler including a bag opening mechanism and a means formaintaining a bag in an opened configuration once opened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A further, detailed, description of the invention, briefly describedabove, will follow by reference to the following drawings of specificembodiments of the invention. These drawings depict only typicalembodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be consideredlimiting of its scope. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag presenter according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the bag presenter of FIG. 1 with a bag positioned inpreparation for gripping thereof.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the bag presenter of FIG. 1, holding a bagrelative to the filling chute of a packaging machine.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a method for use of a bag presenteraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of another bag presenter according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bag presenter according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 7A is a side elevation of the bag presenter of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7B is a side elevation corresponding to FIG. 7A with thebag-handling arm lowered to engage a bag in the conveyor area.

FIG. 7C is a side elevation corresponding to FIG. 7A with thebag-handling arm bringing a bag engaged therein to the bag grippingmeans.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view, partially cut away of a holding area and bagfeeder useful in the bag presenter of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a bag-handling conveyor usefulin a bag presenter.

FIG. 10 a is an enlarged perspective view of a bag-handling arm usefulin a bag presenter.

FIG. 10 b is a side elevation of the bag-handling arm of FIG. 10 a withthe pin engaged against the abutment block and resting in the groove.

FIG. 10 c is a bottom plan view of the bag-handling arm of FIG. 10 b.

FIG. 10 d is a side elevation of a bag-handling arm similar to that ofFIG. 10 a with the pin in a raised position.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another bag presenter.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a bag gripping device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the drawings, like items or substantially like items are indicated bylike reference numerals. In the present application, the term“non-wicketed bag” refers to a bag without mounting pin apertures.

An apparatus for presenting bags can be arranged to operate in variousways with a packaging machine filling station. In one embodiment, forexample, the apparatus can be used to convert a packaging machineintended for handling wicketed bags only to a machine capable also ofhandling non-wicketed bags.

In one embodiment, a bag presenter apparatus is provided for use topresent a bag for filling by a packaging machine, the bag including afirst side panel and an opposite side panel and the packaging machinehaving a filling station including a filling chute and a filled bagconveyor, the bag presenter apparatus including: a bag gripper forholding the bag to be filled by the packaging machine relative to thefilling chute of the packaging machine such that materials from thechute can be introduced to the bag and the bag gripper configurable tohold the first side panel of the bag and in a position conducive toengagement of the bag by the filled bag conveyor of the packagingmachine.

The bag presenter apparatus can be a stand-alone unit and be mountablerelative to the filling chute of a wicketed bag-packaging machine. Thebag presenter apparatus can be positionable in the wicket pin area ofthe bag-packaging machine when the wicket pins have been moved out ofthe way.

The bag gripper can be configurable to hold the bag such that the filledback conveyor can engage the bag for conveyance in a mannersubstantially similar to a bag held by wicket pins.

The bag gripper can include any suitable arrangement for securelyholding a bag for filling. As such the gripping means can, for example,include one or more of pincers, clamps, fingers, suction cups that willhold the bag. In one embodiment, the gripping means is selected to holdthe bag so that the bag is substantially restricted from pivoting abouta single axis substantially orthogonal to the plane of the side panel ofthe bag. The gripping means can be selected to grip one side panel ofthe bag and can be configured to hold the bag in an open arrangementwith one side panel held away from the second side panel. It may bedesirable to select the gripping means such that they do not puncture orrip the bag during gripping or for release. In one embodiment, thegripping means is a pair of spaced apart grippers for holding a sidepanel of the bag in a manner similar to that resulting from the use ofwicket support pins. In another embodiment, the gripping means is aclamp selected to grip the bag over a surface area selected tosubstantially prevent the bag from pivoting about a single axisorthogonal to the plane of the side panel of the bag.

The bag presenting apparatus can be a moveable structure that isremovably positionable relative to a filling station of a packagingmachine. In such an embodiment, for example, the bag presentingapparatus can include a support frame mounted on wheels, the wheelsbeing releasably lockable once the apparatus is in a selected position.Alternately, the bag presenting apparatus can be intended for permanentinstallation in or relative to the filling station of a packagingmachine.

In one embodiment, the apparatus can be sized and configured withconsideration as to the height and orientation of a filling station on apackaging machine such that a bag gripping means on the apparatus can bepositioned to hold a bag below the filling chute of the filling stationand in a position suitable for being picked up by the conveyingmechanisms of the packaging machine, for example, once it is filled.

The bag presenter can include a bag handler for moving the bags from abag supply to be positioned relative to the filling station. The baghandler can be one or more of moveable arms, plungers, conveyers,rollers, chutes, pincers, grippers, blowers, vacuum devices, etc. In anembodiment, the bag handler operates in coordination with, butseparately from, the gripping means for holding the bag relative to thefilling station, such that a subsequent bag can be handled by theapparatus while a first bag is being held for filling. In anotherembodiment, the bag handler includes a plurality of mechanisms thatoperate in coordination with, but separately from, each other so that aplurality of bags can be handled at the same time by the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the bag presenting apparatus includes bag qualityand/or orientation check devices for checking the position of, and/orreorienting, the bag as it is moved through the apparatus. The checkdevice can, for example, be a stop mechanism, which stops the bag duringits movement through the apparatus and squares it relative to the bagdirection of travel. Other check devices can include vacuum and/or lightsensors. Such devices can, for example, sense when a bag has jammed inthe conveyor and is not moving properly through the apparatus.Alternately or in addition, they can sense when a bag is not properlyopening. The apparatus can include a holder for bags rejected by thecheck devices.

The bag presenting apparatus in an embodiment includes a bag opener foropening the bag during the process of passing the bag to the fillingstation. The bag opener can include for example one or more of: pincers,grippers, suction cups, vacuum suction devices, air jet devices,plungers, rams, etc.

In another embodiment, the bag presenter of the present inventionincludes a bag feeder for pulling the bags to be filled, one at a timefrom a supply of bags and feeding them to a bag handler. The bag feedercan include a bag picker including suction device such as for example,suction cups, vacuum tubes, etc. or grippers such as for examplepincers, rollers, etc. for engaging a bag and moving it into theapparatus for further handling. In one embodiment, the bag presenterincludes a holding area for supporting a supply stack of bags, each bagin flat configuration. In one embodiment, the bag pick up means engagesand pulls the bags from the bottom of the stack. The holding area caninclude a bottom floor onto which the stack rests. The holding areafloor includes an opening through which the bag is pulled, the floorbeing configured such that the bag is supported by the floor on at leasttwo sides of the opening. In one embodiment, two parallel edges of thebag will rest on the floor on either side of the opening when the bagsare stacked in the holding area. In another embodiment, the leading endof the bag, as determined by the pulling direction of the bag feeder,and the trailing end of the bag are supported by the floor while a sidepanel of the bag rests over the opening. The leading end and thetrailing end can be the edge of the bag or a portion of the bag adjacentthe edge. The opening can include a slot extending from side to side inthe holding area, to ease the passage therethrough of stiff bag portionssuch as, bag portions having resealable lock channels mounted thereon.

The bag feeder can include a mechanism for pulling the bags from theholding area and passing a leading end of the bag to a conveyor system,which engages the bag leading end to move the bag to a filling station.

The apparatus can be arranged such that bag handling is substantiallyalong one long axis so that the apparatus can be installed or positionedin side by side configuration to present bags to multiple fillingstations, which are also configured in side by side configuration.

Thus a bag presenter can include a bag gripping means for holding a bagto be filled by the packaging machine relative to the filling chute ofthe packaging machine such that materials from the chute can be filledto the bag and the gripping means configurable to hold the bag in aposition conducive to engagement by the filled bag conveyor of thepackaging machine.

In one embodiment, the bag presenter is a stand alone unit and ismountable relative to the filling chute of a wicketed bag packagingmachine. In another embodiment, the bag gripper means includes a pair ofspaced apart grippers selected to grip a side panel of the bag to befilled at two spaced apart points.

In another embodiment, a bag presenter includes a bag supply holdingarea, a gripper for holding a bag relative to the filling station of apackaging machine and a conveyor for moving the bag from the holdingarea toward the gripper, the conveyor including a belt and a bagorientation means acting relative to the belt to ensure appropriate bagorientation in the conveyor.

The bag orientation means can include a stop mechanism, selected to stopadvancement of a bag moved by the belt and to orient the bag relative tothe belt direction of travel. The stop mechanism can be movable into andout of an operable position to stop advancement of a bag. In oneembodiment, the stop mechanism is a pair of stop walls and can be drivento extend through, and be retracted from, a drive surface plane definedby the surface of the belt.

In this embodiment, the conveyor can further include a bag openingmechanism including engaging devices selected to engage the side panelsof a bag and pull them apart. The bag opening mechanism can include asensor for detecting a non-opening bag.

The bag presenter can further include a bag handler for carrying a bagfrom the conveyor to the gripper. In such an embodiment, the conveyorcan be selected to move a subsequent bag into position for moving to thegripper when the bag handler is carrying a first bag from the conveyorto the gripper. The bag handler can be, for example, an arm moveablebetween the conveyor and the gripper, and the conveyor is operable tomove a subsequent bag into position for engagement by the arm when thearm is carrying a first bag to the gripper.

The bag presenter can further include a bag feeder for moving a bag fromthe bag holding area to the conveyor.

Another bag presenter includes a bag supply holding area, a gripper forholding a bag relative to the filling station of a packaging machine anda bag handler for moving the bag from the holding area toward thegripper, the bag handler including a bag opening mechanism and a meansfor maintaining a bag in an opened configuration once opened.

The bag handler can further comprise a bag opening mechanism includingengaging devices selected to engage the side panels of a bag and pullthem apart. The bag opening mechanism can include a sensor for detectinga non-opening bag.

In such an embodiment, the means for maintaining a bag in an openedconfiguration can comprise an air jet device for directing a jet of airinto the opened bag. The air jet device can be mounted on a bag engagingdevice.

The means for maintaining the bag in an opened configuration canalternately or in addition be a gripping device selected to grip a sidepanel of the bag and to deform the bag side panel such that the sideedges of the bag side panel are drawn together creating a slacksituation in the opposite side panel of the bag tending to cause theopposite side panel of the bag to be forced outwardly away from thegripped side panel. In one such embodiment, the means for maintaining abag in an opened configuration comprises a gripping device including afirst jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw and the second jaw beingdriveable into engagement with each other to grip a side panel of a bagtherebetween, the first jaw having a protrusion extending therefrom andthe second jaw having a cavity formed thereon, the protrusion beingselected to sit within the cavity, when the jaws are brought intoengagement with each other. The first jaw can be an elongate pinincluding an end and a side surface and the second jaw is a baseincluding a groove formed therein sized to accept the side surface ofthe pin therein.

A bag presenter 5 according to one embodiment of the present inventionis shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The bag presenter 5 includes a bag grippingmeans 10 for gripping a bag 12 in preparation for filling thereof. Thebag presenter also includes a bag handler 14 for moving the bag from abag supply (not shown) to bag gripping means 10. The bag presenter canbe used for handling non-wicketed bags.

As shown in FIG. 3, bag presenter 5 is positioned and configured to gripbag 12 in a position aligned for filling by a packaging machine 16 and,in particular, for filling by a filling chute 18 in the filling stationof the packaging machine. The bag presenter is further configured andpositioned to hold bag 12 in such a way that it is positioned forengagement by the filled bag handling mechanisms 20 of the packagingmachine.

The bag gripping means is selected to grip the bag in such a way thatthere is substantially no rotation about an axis orthogonal to the planeof the side panel gripped. The bag gripping means 10 in the illustratedembodiment includes a pair of stop fingers 22 and a pair of drivenfingers 24 which can be brought together with one driven finger of thepair driven against one of the stop fingers and the other of the drivenfingers of the pair driven against the other one of the stop fingers. Abag can therefore be gripped between the fingers, wherein fingers 22 areinserted into the bag between its side panels and a side panel of thebag is gripped between the stop fingers 22 and the driven fingers 24.The tip 26 of each driven finger can be formed of deformable material,such as an elastomer, to enhance the gripping action.

Each of the driven fingers move, as shown by arrow A, toward and awayfrom their stop finger by action of a cylinder 28, such as of air orhydraulics, or by other means such as screw drives or solenoids asdesired. Fingers 22 are each mounted on a frame 30 moveable, as in arrowB, to drive fingers 22 into the bag for gripping and out of the bag forrelease thereof. This movement is often generally vertically, as the bagduring gripping is generally vertically oriented and opening upwardly.The frame can be moved by drive cylinders 31 guided by guide rods 31 a.Fingers 24 are connected to frame 30 and are vertically moved withfingers 22. Movement of fingers 22 and 24 are relative to a frame 32 inwhich the bag gripping means is mounted.

The bag presenter can be selected to grip the bag in such a way that itis opened with its side panels held apart. This is accomplished in theillustrated embodiment, first by the location of stop fingers 22 withinthe bag during holding and also selection of the spacing of the grippingpoints. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the fingers 22 arespaced apart a distance less than the actual points on the bag that aregripped by the fingers. This provides that the side panel, which isgripped, has formed therein a deformation that draws the side edges ofthe bag closer together, which causes slack in the free side panelcausing it to bend away from the gripped side panel.

The bag presenter can be provided with spacing adjustment slides inslots 34 for selecting the spacing between fingers 22. Threaded caps 33on the slides permit the slides to be locked in a selected positionalong the slots. The spacing of fingers 22 should be selected so thatthe bag is held firmly and substantially against rotation about axis x.In general, the fingers are often spaced about one half the width of thebag between its side edges.

In operation, the bag presenter is positioned so that fingers 22 arepositioned to hold a bag in a position for filling under a filling chutein a packaging machine filling station. A bag is then positioned betweenfingers 22 and fingers 24 and fingers 24 are driven by their attachedcylinders to drive against fingers 22 with the bag gripped therebetween.The bag is then filled, as the fingers continue to grip it. The filledbag is then picked up by bag handling mechanisms 20 and at the sametime, fingers 24 move away from fingers 22 and fingers 22 are moved upand out of the bag. Thereafter, fingers 22 are then lowered intoposition ready for gripping a next bag. Fingers 22 can cycle throughtheir movement in a very short time, so as not to limit packaging rates.The bag presenting apparatus can be controlled by a control system, suchas a programmable logic controller. In one embodiment, there is acommunication system operating between the packaging machine and the bagpresenter to provide synchronization therebetween. In anotherembodiment, a sensor on the packaging machine determines that a bag isready in the gripping means ready for filling.

Bag handler 14 of the illustrated embodiment, includes a moveable arm 36having mounted thereon for movement therewith a gripper pin 38 and a pinabutment block 40. The pin acts as a stop against which abutment block40 engages. In particular, abutment block 40 is driven towards and awayfrom pin 38 by a cylinder 42. In particular, cylinder 42 is fixed on arm36 and abutment block 40 is mounted on the rod 43 of the cylinder (FIG.10). Guide 44 is provided to support rod 43 as it reciprocates block 40.Block 40 can be advanced to engage a bag side panel and drive it againstpin 38 to thereby engage that bag on arm 36 such that the bag can bemoved by and with the arm.

Pin 38 and block 40 are positioned on arm 36 with consideration as tothe orientation of fingers 22, 24 so that any bag side panel grippedbetween pin 38 and block 40 will be brought up between fingers 22 andfingers 24 so that it can be gripped by fingers 22, 24. After the bag isgripped between fingers 22, 24, block 40 can be pulled back from pin 38and the pin can be pivoted up out of the bag by, for example, action ofcylinder 46 driving pin mount 47 about a fulcrum 48 by pulling back onthe mount (FIG. 10 d). Once pin 38 and block 40 are clear of the bag,arm 36 can be moved to engage a subsequent bag and bring it intoposition for engagement by fingers 22, 24.

Bag handler 14 includes a bag opening means including air jetting ports49 on pin 38. In addition, block 40 includes a groove 50 into which pin38 sits when block is engaged thereagainst. This arrangement is againselected to form a deformation in the bag panel gripped therebetween todraw the bag sides together and to urge the bag into an openconfiguration during handling. In the illustrated embodiment, thisdeformation is passed to and maintained by, the gripping means 10, sincethe fingers 22, 24 grip the bag directly.

With reference to also FIG. 4, the bag presenter of the presentinvention, such as that shown in FIG. 1 can be used to converttemporarily or permanently the bag handling capabilities of a packagingmachine 59 from use of wicketed bags to use of non-wicketed bags. To dothis, the wicket mounting pin frame 60 with wicket pins 60 a mountedthereon is raised 61 out of the way, as by use of positioning screws 62.The bag presenter is then positioned 64 so that fingers 22 are orientedrelative to chute 18 so that any bag gripped by fingers 22 will be opento receive materials passing from the chute. The bag presenter can thenbe operated 66 with the operation of the packaging machine to fillnon-wicketed bags. The bag presenter can be permanently installed inthis position or positioned only temporarily. If it is desired to returnto packaging of wicketed bags, the bag presenter can be removed andmounting pin frame 60 can be repositioned for use with chute 18.

With the bag presenter of FIGS. 1 and 2, the bag, although not wicketed,is held in a manner similar to wicketed bags, wherein a side panel ofthe bag is held at two spaced apart places. As such, the bag presenterof the present invention is particularly suited for use in the permanentor temporary conversion of a packaging machine for wicketed bags tohandle non-wicketed bags, representing a more cost effective packagingoption.

A bag presenter 5 a according to another embodiment is shown in FIG. 5.The bag presenter 5 a includes a bag supply holding area 70, a baggripping means 10 a for gripping a bag in preparation for fillingthereof and bag handlers 14 a, 14 b and 14 c that move the bag from thebag supply to the bag gripping means 10 a. The bag presenter alsoincludes a bag orientation check device 72 for ensuring the bag isproperly oriented for handling by the apparatus and a bag opening means74. The bag presenter can be used for handling non-wicketed bags.

Bag presenter 5 a accommodates a supply of bags 75 in bag supply holdingarea 70 and conveys the bags one at a time from the stack to baggripping means 10 a where each bag in turn is positioned ready forfilling by a packaging machine. Apparatus 5 a advantageously includes aplurality of bag handlers 14 a, 14 b, 14 c so that more than one bag canbe handled by the apparatus simultaneously.

Bag holding area 70 supports the bag supply stack with the bags eachlying flat and one on top of the other. The floor 84 of the holding areaincludes an opening 70 b through which the bags are drawn by bag handler14 a. The opening is positioned on the floor of the holding area suchthat sections of the floor including front ledge 70 c and rear ledge 70d are disposed on either side of opening, rather than it being disposedat an extreme edge of the floor. This provides that the stack issupported at both its leading and trailing ends while bags are beingdrawn down through the opening, tending to ensure that only one bag at atime is pulled from the stack.

Subsequent bag handlers 14 b, 14 c accept a bag from bag handler 14 aand advance it toward bag gripping means 10 a. Bag orientation checkdevice 72 is positioned to ensure that the bag is properly positionedand oriented for handling.

Bag opening means 74 open the bag during handling so that it is incondition ready for accepting items. The bag opening means can include,for example, a holding means and a pair of grippers, which together holdthe bag and grip its side panels to pull them apart and open the bag.

Bag gripping means 10 a finally holds the bag in a position ready forfilling. Bag gripping means 10 a includes a holding mechanism, whichgrips a side panel of the bag at two points such that the bag is held inposition similar to that of a wicketed bag. The holding mechanism can bepositioned relative to a packaging machine so that the bag will bepositioned ready for filling and further handling by the packagingmachine.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10, there is shown another bag presentingapparatus according to the present invention. The bag presenter 5 bincludes a bag supply holding area 70 a, a bag gripping means 10 forgripping a bag in preparation for filling thereof and bag handlers thatmove the bag from the holding area to the bag gripping means including abag feeder 76 for pulling the bags one at a time from the holding areaand a conveyor 78 and a moveable arm 36 for in turn accepting andadvancing the pulled bag. The bag presenter also includes, in conveyor78, a bag orientation check device 72 for ensuring the bag is properlyoriented for handling by the apparatus and bag opening means including adevice 80 for pulling the side panels of the bag apart and an erectionram 82.

Bag supply holding area 70 a is constructed to hold a supply of bags inflattened configuration. The bags are generally loaded into the holdingarea in a stack with their open ends in a selected direction for properhandling by the bag presenter. In this embodiment, any bags are loadedsuch that when pulled, their open end becomes the leading edge. Bagsupply holding area 70 a includes a floor support 84 on which the bagsrest. Front wall 85 and side walls 86 extend up about the floor. Sidewalls 86 are positionable using threaded posts 88 in slots 89 or othermeans so that the distance between the walls can be adjusted to urge thewalls up against the sides of the stack. Thereby, bag supply holdingarea 70 a is adjustable to accept bags of various sizes.

Floor support 84 can be tilted from a horizontal position so that thestack of bags tends to be forced against front wall 85 of the area. Thistogether with adjustment of walls 86 tends to maintain the stack in aselected and substantially ordered orientation in the holding area.

Floor support 84 includes an opening defined by floor edges 90, 91. Theopening is positioned on the floor such that floor support surfaces aredisposed on either side of the opening to support the bags at two end.To remove the bags one at a time from the stack, the bottom most bag isengaged from its side panel exposed through the slot and pulled downthrough the slot.

Bag holding area 70 a, in the illustrated embodiment, is selected to besuitable for handling bags having resealable lock channels mountedthereon. In particular, the opening is extended between side edges 93 toform a slot across floor 84.

Bag feeder 76 pulls the bags from bag supply holding area 70 a. Inparticular, the bag feeder engages the exposed side panel of the bottommost bag through the slot and pulls the bag down through the slot. Thebag feeder includes a suction means, such as suction cups 94 or vacuumhandlers, to engage the side panel on its planar surface and a drivemechanism 96 to pull the suction means and an engaged bag down throughthe slot.

Bag feeder 76 also moves the engaged bag into engagement with conveyor78. In particular, bag feeder 76 includes a drive 96, which acts to bothpull the bag down and thereafter to move the bag forward into conveyor78. The drive mechanism can maintain the orientation of the bag duringthis bag transport so that the bags, when loaded to the bag holdingarea, can be in the same orientation as when they are presented to theconveyor. In the illustrated embodiment the drive mechanism includes apair of cylinders, the first of which moves suction cups 94 up and downrelative to the opening in floor support 84 and the second of whichmoves the suction cups toward and away from conveyor 78. A sensor (forexample in place of sensor 105 described hereinbelow) can be provided inassociation with this mechanism to determine if a bag has been engagedby the suction cups, to thereby control activities of the bag presentingapparatus including the bag feeder and conveyor 78.

Conveyor 78 includes a pair of pinched belts each with a conveyor belt102 and a pinch roller 104, acting against belt 102. Pinch rollers 104are driven into and out of engagement against belts 201 in response tothe arrival of a bag from drive mechanism 96, as determined by a sensor105 that can be positioned in various locations but in the illustratedembodiment is shown above a belt. In particular, bag feeder 76 can movea bag to rest on belts 102 when rollers 104 are raised away from thebelts. Once sensor 105, senses that a bag is located on the conveyorbelts, rollers 104 are lowered and belts 102 are driven forward. Thepinched belts are spaced apart to engage the two parallel edges of a bagbeing passed thereto by bag feeder 76. Belts 102 are driven, in thedirection indicated by arrow C, by wheels 105, which are attached to adrive shaft 106 of motor 107.

Additional belts, such as belt 102 a, can be used as desired to supportwider bags. Edge guides 113 are spaced above belts 102 leaving a gaptherebetween through which a bag can pass. Guides 113 act after pinchrollers 104 to maintain the bag down against the belts and in a flatconfiguration. Conveyor 78 can include other means, as desired, such asdate stamp 114.

The conveyor can be expanded to accommodate various widths of bags.Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, belts 102, guides 113 and rollers104 are mounted between moveable side frames 115 and an expansionmechanism 108, such as a screw drive, driven by handle 116 is mountedtherebetween to permit the side frames to be moved relative to eachother. Telescoping portions 110, for example on support roller shaft112, are provided to allow for the distance adjustment.

At the output end of conveyor 78, a stop device is positioned to stopand check the orientation of the bag being passed through. The stopdevice includes a pair of spaced apart stop walls 122 (only one can beseen), positioned between conveyor belts 102, extending through theplane of bag travel, as defined by drive surfaces 124 of the belts andsquare to the direction, arrow C, of travel of the belts. As such, stopwalls 122 are positioned to define a plane to which the bag leading edgeshould be stopped and oriented. In particular, stop walls 122 preventfurther advancement of the bag through the conveyer and, in cooperationwith the drive of belts 102, orient the bag leading edge square to theconveyor direction of travel. Stop walls 122 are spaced apart to permitaccess to the conveyer and, thereby any bag stopped against walls 122,as by arm 36. Stop walls 122 are mounted on a retractor (not shown) sothat they can be retracted out of the way, for example, when a bag ispulled out by arm 36.

Belts 102, and 102 a if present, are driven intermittently to advance abag, but are halted when a sensor 125 senses a bag passing adjacent theoutput end. The sensor communicates with motor 107 to stop the belts ata time selected to allow a bag moving therethrough to butt against stopwalls 122. Clamps 126 can be provided to hold the bag against movementin the conveyor. In particular, once the belts are stopped, clamps 126are driven down to pinch the bag into engagement with belts 102 and holdthe bag for opening by bag opener 80. In another embodiment, clamps canbe omitted as the bag opener does not require additional clamping.

Bag opener 80 includes engaging devices 127, such as suction cups orvacuum devices, which are selected to engage each of the side panels ofthe bag being handled. The engaging devices are mounted to move with anupper cylinder 128 and a lower cylinder (cannot be seen), which can pullthe engaging devices apart to, thereby, pull bag side panels engaged byengaging devices 127 apart. For additional opening capabilities, such aswhere larger bags are to be handled or staged opening is desired, anadditional cylinder 129 can be installed to act with cylinder 128.Cylinders 128, 129 are mounted on frame 130. A sensor (cannot be seen)can be operated in cooperation with engaging devices 127 to determinewhen a bag is not being opened properly, for example where no suction issensed at a suction cup of the engaging devices. This may occur, forexample, where the resealable lock channels are locked on the bag sothat the bag cannot be opened with a normal opening force. This sensorcan be in communication with a control system that drives a non-openingbag into a holding bin 131 for manual inspection and possible recyclingto holding area 70 a.

If desired, an erection ram 82 can be installed to act on the bag in theconveyor 78. The ram 82 can act on the bag once it has been stopped bystop walls 122 and is held open by mechanism 80. Ram 82 can bepositioned to extend between the side panels of the bag once it isopened on the conveyor. Ram 82 is useful where the bag to be handledincludes a gusset.

Once the bag is advanced by conveyor 78 and opened by mechanism 80, itis ready for passing to gripping means 10 for filling. In theillustrated embodiment, the apparatus includes a moveable arm 36, whichmoves the bag to be handled from conveyor 78 to the bag gripping means.Arm 36 is positioned to pivot between the conveyor and gripping means 10to bring the bag from a horizontal position to a substantially verticalposition in preparation for filling. The arm pivots about a fulcrumdefined by a pin 130 in a stationary mount 132, as driven by a cylinder134 attached at clevis 136. In one embodiment, cylinder 134 can bereplaced by a motor (not shown). A motor can be adjusted easily tocontrol the arm's range of motion to, for example, accommodate changesin bag and/or apparatus configurations.

Arm 36 includes a bag gripping mechanism such as, for example, thatdescribed above with respect to FIGS. 1, 2 and 10 including a pin 38 andblock 40.

Bag gripping means 10 can be as described in FIGS. 1 and 2 includingfingers 22 and 24.

Note that the apparatus can be constructed to pass the bags generallyalong one substantially horizontal direction, indicated by arrow D, fromholding area 70 a to bag gripping means 10. This permits the apparatusto be relatively narrow and only slightly wider than the width of a bagto be handled. As such the apparatus can easily mounted in side-by-sideconfiguration and be scaleable to operate with a packaging machinehaving multiple fill chutes. In addition, because the handlers pass thebags through a range of vertical positions while operating alongdirection D, the apparatus has a relatively compact length.

Various drive systems can be used for the various conveyors andhandlers. In one embodiment, a stepper motor is used.

The apparatus can be controlled in any desired way. However, it will beappreciated that automatic control, such as by use of a programmablelogic controller, will facilitate operation.

The illustrated bag presenter of FIGS. 6 and 7 can provide a packagingmachine with non-wicketed bag handling capability. Thus, the bagpresenter can be mounted on a mobile cart 150 riding on wheels 152.Wheels 152 include locks 154 so that the apparatus can be securelypositioned for use.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is shown another bag presenter 5 c.Bag presenter 5 c includes a bag supply arrangement 170, a bag gripper172 for gripping the bag in preparation for introducing materialsthereto and bag handlers for moving the bag from the bag supplyarrangement to the bag gripper. The bag handlers include a bag feeder(cannot be seen), a conveyor 178 and a moveable arm 179. The bagpresenter also includes a bag orientation and opening device 180.

Bag supply arrangement 170 includes a conveyer that fans a supply ofbags to be engaged by a bag feeder. The conveyor includes a beltarrangement 182 that moves a line of bags forwardly toward the bagfeeder. Fanning fingers 184 disposed above the belt and side walls 186about the belt urge the bags into a flat, orderly overlapping or spacedapart, aligned series. The bag feeder engages a bottom surface of a bagbeing advanced on the belt and draws it forward into conveyor 178.

In conveyor 178, a bag is advanced and then stopped and opened beforebeing grasped by moveable arm 179. Device 180 assists in the stopping,orientation and opening of the bag in conveyor 178. Device 180 includesa stop wall 186 that is moved into and out of the conveyor bag handlingplane to stop the bags. Stop wall 186 carries an air jet generator 188that drives a jet of air into an opened bag to temporarily inflate it,as may be desirable to open a bag gusset.

Moveable arm 179 carries a bag gripping mechanism including an internalblock 190 for inserting between the side panels of a bag to be graspedand an external block 192 for pinching a bag panel to internal block190. Internal block 190 is enlarged to hold the side panels apart onceit is inserted therein. Blocks 190, 192 are positioned to engage the bagsubstantially centrally. However, in another embodiment the bag grippingmechanism can include a pair of spaced apart grippers that grip the bagadjacent its side seams.

Bag gripper 172 includes support members 194, 196 for supporting thefilled weight of the bag against tearing out of the engagement orsagging out of position for proper handling. Support members 194 arecarried on driven fingers 24 for supporting behind the bag. Supportmember 196 reciprocates up and down beneath the bag to support itsbottom end.

The apparatus can be constructed in various ways with various materials,as would be appreciated by a skilled workman. If desired, the apparatuscan be adapted for sanitary handling of food stuffs by use of stainlesssteel and sealed components suitable for wash down.

It will be apparent that many other changes may be made to theillustrative embodiments, while falling within the scope of theinvention and it is intended that all such changes be covered by theclaims appended hereto.

1. A bag presenter apparatus for use to present a bag for filling by apackaging machine, the bag including a first side panel and an oppositeside panel and the packaging machine having a filling station includinga filling chute and a filled bag conveyor, the bag presenter apparatuscomprising: a bag gripper for holding the bag to be filled by thepackaging machine relative to the filling chute of the packaging machinesuch that materials from the chute can be introduced to the bag, the baggripper operable to hold the bag to be filled without wicket pins alsoengaging the bag and the bag gripper configurable to hold the first sidepanel of the bag and in a position conducive to engagement of the bag bythe filled bag conveyor of the packaging machine; a conveyor for movingthe bag from a supply area toward the bag gripper; and a bag handler forcarrying the bag from the conveyor to the gripper.
 2. The bag presenterapparatus of claim 1 being a stand-alone unit and being mountablerelative to the filling chute of a wicketed bag-packaging machine. 3.The bag presenter apparatus of claim 1 being a stand-alone unitpositionable below the filling chute of the bag-packaging machine whenany wicket pins have been moved out of the way.
 4. The bag presenterapparatus of claim 1 wherein the bag gripper includes a pair of spacedapart gripping fingers positioned to hold the bag at two positions suchthat the filled bag conveyor can engage the bag for conveyance in amanner substantially similar to a wicketed bag holding configuration. 5.The bag presenter apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bag gripper includesa pair of spaced apart gripping pinchers selected to grip a first sidepanel of the bag to be filled at two spaced apart fixed points.
 6. Thebag presenter apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bag presenter moves thebag to be filled along a substantially uniform direction from a bagsupply area to the bag gripper.
 7. The bag presenter apparatus of claim1 wherein the conveyor including a belt and a bag orientating deviceacting relative to the belt to ensure appropriate bag orientation in theconveyor.
 8. The bag presenter of claim 7 wherein the bag orientatingdevice includes a stop mechanism, selected to stop advancement of thebag to be filled moved by the belt and to orient the bag relative to thebelt direction of travel.
 9. The bag presenter of claim 8 wherein thestop mechanism is movable into and out of an operable position to stopadvancement of the bag to be filled.
 10. The bag presenter of claim 9wherein the stop mechanism can be driven to extend through and toretract from, a drive surface plane defined by the surface of the belt.11. The bag presenter of claim 7 wherein the conveyor is expandable toadjust for various bag widths.
 12. The bag presenter of claim 1, whereinthe conveyor comprises a bag opening mechanism including engagingdevices selected to engage the side panels of the bag and pull themapart.
 13. The bag presenter of claim 12 wherein the bag openingmechanism includes a sensor for detecting a non-opening bag.
 14. The bagpresenter of claim 1 wherein the conveyor is selected to move asubsequent bag into position for moving to the gripper when the baghandler is carrying a first bag from the conveyor to the gripper. 15.The bag presenter of claim 1 wherein the bag handler is an arm moveablebetween the conveyor and the gripper and moves to pull the bag upwardlyinto position for engagement by the gripper.
 16. The bag presenter ofclaim 1 further comprising a bag feeder for moving a bottom bag from thebag supply to the conveyor.
 17. A bag presenter apparatus for use topresent a bag for filling by a packaging machine, the bag including afirst side panel and an opposite side panel and the packaging machinehaving a filling station including a filling chute and a filled bagconveyor, the bag presenter apparatus comprising: a bag gripper forholding the bag to be filled by the packaging machine relative to thefilling chute of the packaging machine such that materials from thechute can be introduced to the bag and the bag gripper configurable tohold the first side panel of the bag and in a position conducive toengagement of the bag by the filled bag conveyor of the packagingmachine and a conveyor for moving the bag from a supply area toward thebag gripper, the conveyor including a belt and a bag orientating deviceacting relative to the belt to ensure appropriate bag orientation in theconveyor.
 18. The bag presenter of claim 17 wherein the bag orientatingdevice includes a stop mechanism, selected to stop advancement of a bagmoved by the belt and to orient the bag relative to the belt directionof travel.
 19. The bag presenter of claim 18 wherein the stop mechanismis movable into and out of an operable position to stop advancement of abag.
 20. The bag presenter of claim 19 wherein the stop mechanism can bedriven to extend through and to retract from, a drive surface planedefined by the surface of the belt.